lcd massive dead spots

I understand the LCD has to be replaced. I'm trying to figure out alternative causes for the problem so that I can make an informed case to Sony for replacement under warrantee.

They say it's physical damage, which I say is near impossible given the care I gave this unit in the month I had it before the problem.

If there's another possible cause aside from physical impact (which by the way would make for a pretty fragile unit given the care I exercised in using it), I'm hoping they'll do right by me and fix/replace it.

Any ideas?

The brutal truth is that a short 3 to 4 inch drop can break many laptop LCDs. Your backpack may not soften such a blow and even out of sight some person could have kicked your backpack without you noticing it or leaving a mark.

At this point, consider asking for a full refund as a disatified customer. Do not entertain replacement but go for a total refund. If there is a 15% restock fee. Pay it and move on.

Bob

Bob:

Does Sony even have a dissatisfied customer policy? I looked on their website, but didn't find one.

Again, does anyone know of anything other than a physical strike that could have caused this problem?

Thanks for the feedback so far.

My gf recently just purchased the same Sony
model (FS550). And yes, hands down, its one
of the nicest screen in the laptop market.
It was one of the main reasons why I told
her to get it. Having read your post, raises a
serious eyebrow, then again others who have
had this model for more than 4 months did
not report any screen anomalies such as yours.

Two distinct circles, implies some kind of soft
or hard impact has occurred or the LCD was
compressed. Why the circle shape? My guess is that
within the LCD Cover there are support rings that are
fused with the cover for additional protection and
given enough pressure or impact, an imprint of
a ''perfect circle'' can be left on the front side of
the LCD. (this is only a guess)

Eitherway, you need $ervicing. You also need to
prove to sony that these 'perfect circles'
spontaneously appeared after a month of usage.

You that a few options:

- If you purchased your Sony with a credit card
you can refute the charges claiming 'defective
merchandise'

- demand letter from a lawyer to Sony Warranty
(cost you about 50-75)

- new lcd panel outsourced from asia (if you can
find one)


I'm curious to see these circles, have any pics??

Yes please do post some pics.. Blank spots? Do you mean pressure marks? I would agree w/server and Bob on this issue..

Thanks for the feedback so far.

I don't have pics to post, as the unit is in the shop.

As I said in another thread to this topic, what leads me to believe it's a defect instead of an 'injury' is the fact that I took such good care of it. It was brand new and I was extremely careful of it. Had it been an older laptop (like my last one), that knocked around the office and home, I could more easily accept that it was a physical blow that did it. This one was so babied it still had the stickers!

Are there any tests as to how much pressure would be required for these sorts of circles to come up? Any alternative theories?

If physical damage is really the only way this sort of thing could happen, I really have to wonder as to the durability of this thing -- aren't they meant to be portable.

Anyways, thanks to all for your opinions so far. Hope to hear more.

My buddy was showing me how the LCD distorts and such as he pressed on the laptop lid. I was speechless that he would do such to a laptop's LCD.

YES, it's very fragile. To get the weight down, they remove metal and plastic in that area.

Bob

I looks like a 'light' is dimmer on one side. What would cause this?

My Dell Insprion 8000 screen looks like a 'light' is dimmer on one side. What would cause this?

With that note "I can see this happening." Not a blow but compression. Too many people put a laptop in a backpack and lean or sit with the backpack still on. The pressure could be too much and your description fits.

Bob

Not that it makes a difference, but I carried it in my laptop bag, not my backpack. Had it been in my backpack, I could readily see it getting knocked about. Carried it from my office to where I would work with it (100m) a few times a week. Once in a while brought it home. The basic trips you do that justify paying for portability.

Help!

I called someone on your behalf. The verdict
is ''Definitely an IMPACT'' Some impacts can
happen when you least suspect it and while
its in your bag.

Do you have kids?? Are there other ppl using
this ''babied machine''?? There are many variables
but I think something happened that you are not
aware of.

>>Are there any tests as to how much pressure
>>would be required for these sorts of circles
>>to come up? Any? alternative theories?

No Software/Hardware tests unless you want more circles

>>If physical damage is really the only way
>>this sort of thing could happen, I really
>>have to wonder as to the durability of
>>this thing -- aren't they meant to be
>>portable

This particular machine is Long, super lean,
and slender. So the impact tolerance goes down,
the thinner the machine gets You must take a
little extra care when transporting it.

Now I'm kinda wondering, I told my GF to forgo
the 300-400 for additional up-sell warranty.
Then again, not sure LCD's would still be covered
for this kind of problem...

Thanks for looking into it for me -- hope the call you made wasn't to Sony

Was hoping there was an alternative scenario. In spite of all posts to the contrary, I'm having trouble believing that something designed to be portable could be so fragile as to not stand up to the extrememly limited and careful 'porting' I gave it.

No one else has access to this computer and, given how new it is, I'd have definitely noticed had I given it a good bump.

ARRRRRRGH!!!!

Anyone at all have an alternative theory? Second shooter at the grassy knoll or something...?

>>One of the two dead spots has in
>>the meantime completely disappeared
>>the screen works perfectly where the
>>black circle used to be

Joe,

Once again, this is *MORE* evidence that
indeed you somehow managed to compress the
LCD portion of the laptop. Sometimes, the
damaged area (compressions in your case) will
self correct as the lcd will attempt to ease
back to its original state. There is also a
good chance you can correct the other areas
of the screen.

At this time, I would OPEN the lcd and take a
look. Who knows, there might be something that
dislodged and is stuck between the lcd and the
lcd cover.

Look behind the screen and I think you will find foam Isolators or similar caused this issue.

Thanks!

What's a foam isolator? Is that like a spacer of some sorts.

Also, is taking the screen apart as simple as you guys make it sound -- ie: remove the cover and there you go?

What do I have to be careful of (besides touching the screen, losing pieces, dropping it etc)

Cheers!

joe

If theyre gone leave well enough alone.. Isolators is exactly what they are.. Just a cushion between the back of the lcd and the plastic lid. If you Have to know? Pull the bezel off the rest is easy to figure out..Dont twist the screen assy.. Retape the LCD cable upon reassembly, And make sure its off and the power and battery is disconnected? High voltage present @ the inverter output..

Actually, only one of the two circles disappeared. The other kind of grows and shrinks. Yesterday I could see the "Re" in recycle bin, now I can hardly see the bin itself)

Will try disassembling it, but what's a bezel? Should I remove that particular isolator, or will that cause other problems.

Thanks for your help -- I want to make sure I know what I'm doing before I open this puppy up!

Cheers!

Joe

"A form of any shape which incorporates a continuous groove to fit something."

Read http://www.futureelectronics.com/LCDDisplay/glossary.asp as well.

OK,

The remaining circle is growing and now forming to the corner of the screen. I've decided to roll up my sleeves and crack this puppy open as soon as I get back to my office and have access to some smallish tools.

Is there a site with a schematic or a walk-through for this sort of thing? If not, would anyone care to do a stranger a favour and send some rudimentary instructions? I'm somewhat confident I can blunder through it, but would rather not learn from my mistakes on this one

Thanks!

joe
Sony VGN-FS550

PS: Still can't believe this thing is screwed up -- treated it like an egg.... >

I am going through the same issue with Sony. I ask for a damage report and they won't supply it to me. My unit did the same thing and it will eventually be permanent. After receiving my unit back from Sony repair, the using now has a crack going from one side of the screen to the other. This did not exist when I sent the unit in for repair. I can send anyone pictures of the damage progression. I recommend taking didital pictures of the damage including days where it is good and days when it is bad. the pictures will be timestamped from the camera. And with my problem, their official position is still "too bad, so sad". Stay away from Sony Laptops.

Yes, I wish LCD repairs were:

a> Possible.
b> Not so costly.

Bob

>>but at least my screen is almost back to it's
>>beautiful self, and without having to pay the
>>extortionate CAN $1,700+ they wanted to replace it.

1700CAN makes no $en$e! You can buy the whole unit
for about 1650 at COSTCO!! New notebook lcds' are not
1700 bucks. I smell a smear campaign...

>>Am still too afraid to travel with this thing given
>>how fragile it turned out to be, but at least now I
>>have a beautiful desktop, albeit in laptop form.

Again, there are limits to how much abuse can
be dished out to any laptop screen. If you know you
have a tenancy to be 'rough' then get two square
pieces of thin plywood or something equivalent and
this will ensure you won't have more lcd 'mishaps'

Server:

That's exactly what I said -- why would Sony charge me more than half the value of the unit just to replace the screen? (no doubt the unit has dropped considerably in cost since then) Which, of course, made me even more dissatisfied as I really don't see why they should profit on a repair of a faulty unit -- the least they could have done was an 'at cost' repair.

Of course, if you're still skeptical and would like me to email you the service quote I'm sure I could dig it up and scan it for you...

As for a smear campaign, I only wish. I originally came online to see if anyone had an alternate theory to how these spots came to be, as I had treated this brand new laptop like a baby. Of course, since Sony service ran me through a month of jumping through hoops, innumerable phone calls and aggravation only to tell me they'd charge me an insane amount to replace the screen, I really don't mind sharing my experiences.

Which brings me to my next post further down the page...

PS: Thanks for the tip with the plywood -- I'll definitely use it with my next laptop as this one apparently isn't portable. And here I was looking at high-end laptop bags!

Aaaaaaand it's back.

My big black spot that went away all by itself is now, for no apparent reason, back.

As bored as many of you must be getting with these posts, imagine how I must feel -- I own the thing!

If notebooks can't be ported without damage, how can they be called portable? Why is it that a company can sell a product and then when it doesn't stand up to the use for which it was designed and sold, simply assume that it must have been abused and therefore refuse service? If the wheels fell of my car, could Nissan say I must have been driving too agressively, otherwise why would the wheels have fallen off?

If I sound bitter and frustrated with Sony it's only because they sold me a substandard product and then refuse to stand behind it. I'll know for next time.

>>After receiving my unit back from Sony repair,
>>the using now has a crack going from one side
>>of the screen to the other.

So, after you repaired your screen, what was the
cost? Most importantly, what was the CAUSE?

a) as determined by you
b) as determined by Sony

Sometimes, its hard to pin fault. Clearly, if
it is a manufacturing problem they would show
up more in numbers. I know someone with the same
machine and so far so good. I'm more interested
in how it can happen spontaneously or was there
another factor involved?